A café owner who is already struggling due to the coronavirus lockdown has now been slapped with a parking ticket outside her high street business.

Emily Hawkes, who owns Kitch in Canterbury, had also been waiting for a delivery to help keep her other catering firm running as she battles to keep afloat.

Watch: Business owner blasts traffic warden

She is already having to keep paying rent for the building and has been closed since March 23 due to the pandemic.

But to add insult to injury, she was given a parking fine while unloading.

She says she parked her car outside the closed eatery at about 8.30am today - which is within the city council's rules for loading.

"I have a catering business which I have just managed to get up and running again by doing deliveries," the 41-year-old told KentOnline.

"I don’t fit into any of the financial packages for my own personal income so I have got to get a business up and running.

"The only way I can do that is to get deliveries to Kitch."

Ms Hawkes explained how she had been going to her café between 4pm and 10.30am and when she is allowed to access the high street to load/unload.

She has also been doing this to check the security of the premises.

Today she needed to take some things to Kitch and was waiting for a delivery for her catering business.

"I saw a traffic warden outside teaching a new one how to issue a ticket," she added.

"He said, ‘we are not accepting this, you are only allowed to load and unload’.

"I told him I have unloaded and I’m waiting for a delivery. He said, ‘too late, I am issuing you a ticket’."

She has vented her anger on social media by sharing a video describing the incident.

"I am absolutely livid," she said. "I have spent an absolute fortune to be here for the past six-and-a-half years."

Rules issued by the council state the high street is closed to all motor vehicles between 4pm and 10.30am daily except for loading.

A Canterbury City Council spokesperson said: "We have a very clear appeals process in place for anyone who believes that a penalty charge notice has been incorrectly issued, and would encourage Mrs Hawkes to follow that process.

"A complaints procedure is also available for any perceived concerns about the conduct of an officer.

"Mrs Hawkes has made a number of allegations on social media today, but it wouldn't be appropriate to comment on what happened this morning ahead of any complaint that might be received."

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